12 sanctioned in Shanghai subway crash

Passengers take subway in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 6, 2011. A subway train crash that occurred on Shanghai's subway Line 10 on Sept. 27 was caused by negligence, with twelve people disciplined in connection with the accident, investigators said Thursday. The crash occurred at about 2:51 p.m. following a signal system failure at a station on the Line 10 subway, injuring over 290 passengers. [Xinhua/Fan Jun]

A subway train crash that occurred on Shanghai's subway Line 10 on Sept. 27 was caused by negligence, with twelve people disciplined in connection with the accident, investigators said Thursday.

Among those punished was Tang Zhihua, chief dispatcher of the Line 10 operation control center. He was removed from his post, according to the report released by the investigation team.

Eleven other managers and workers of the operation control and power supply sections also received penalties ranging from removing from job posts to demotions, said the report.

The crash occurred at 2:37 p.m. following a signal system failure at a station on the Line 10 subway, injuring over 290 passengers.

So far, 70 people are still receiving treatment at hospital, according to the report.

The signal system failed to operate because of power failure, and the dispatchers issued a number of erroneous orders, which finally led to the crash, said the report.